Tool slide



Jan. 8, 1952 f c. D, PULSIFER 2,581,602

TOOL SLIDE Filed Dec. 12, 1946 mrl Ckmeflce 12 Pa [597?! BY Z ZATTORNEYS,

Patented Jan. 8, 1952 s PATENT OFF ICE TooL SLIDE Clarence D. Pulsifer,Farmington,

to The New Britain Machine Britain,

Conm, assignor Company, New

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 12, 1946,Serial No. 715,896

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a tool slide or the like and more particularlyto means for adjusting the fit between two relatively slidable members.

Tool slides and the like frequently employ a dovetail slot and dovetailfor slidably engaging a tool slide or the like with its base. It iscommon practice to make the dovetail and slot on an angle of about 45. Alesser angle is in many cases much more desirable, but with a lesserangle of contact there is great likelihood that the slide will stickupon the application of substantial lateral or twisting force. Somedovetail slot connections have included an adjustable gib for varyingboth the lateral and the vertical fit between the dovetail and its slot.However, where both the lateral and vertical fits are determined by thegib or gibs, there is also likelihood of sticking or binding uponapplication of a heavy lateral or twisting force, and this tendency tobinding or sticking becomes more pronounced as the angle of the dovetailand the slot is diminished.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved means for adjustingthe fit between two relatively slidable members connected by means suchas a dovetail slot means.

It is a further object to provide a slidable connection between twomembers such as a tool slide and its base, wherein the tendency to bindor stick is reduced to a minimum.

It is a further object to provide a slidable connection between a pairof members so arranged that the lateral fits and vertical fits areseparately adjustable.

It is a further object to provide improved means for adjusting thelateral fit between a pair of relatively slidable members connected by alug and slot type of connection.

It is a further object to provide improved means for adjusting thevertical fit between two relatively slidable members connected by meansof a slot and lug type of connection. In general, the object is toprovide an improved sliding con- Broadly speaking, my invention may beembodied in a slide connection involving slots and lugs slidable in suchslots. Such a connection may be, though it is not necessarily, embodiedin a dovetail slot connection. The lateral fit between the tworelatively slidable members, in accordance with my invention, isdetermined by improved means independently of the vertical fit betweenthe two members; and the vertical slidnection between a tool slide orthe like and its base.

The invention, in the illustrative form shown, is embodied in a dovetailslot type of connection.

In the drawings whichshow, for illustrative purposes only, a preferredform of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a slide and base illustrativeof the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, taken substantiallyin the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, taken substantiallyin the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.. i

In the illustrative form shown, one of the slidable members has adovetail, while the other member has a dovetail slot. As illustratedspecifically, the base 5 is provided with a dovetail, while the slide 6is provided with a dovetail slot interfitting with the dovetail. Theusual com mercial incline of a dovetail is about 45", but by 'reason ofmy invention I am able to employ a dovetail and slot having asubstantially lesser angle as indicated at l, and that angle may bereduced still more.

The dovetail has opposed outwardly turned lugs 8--8, which in thepreferred form have flat lateral bearing surfaces 9-"). The flatlongitudinal bearing surface 9 is slidably engaged with a bearingsurface I I, preferably also flat, and in the preferred form the bearingsurface II in the bottom of the dovetail slot is relieved, as indicatedat l2, so as to provide spaced apart bearing points or bearing zonesbetween the dovetail and slot, as indicated at l3|3., The dovetail atthe opposite side i 0, in the preferred form, does not engage theadjacent bottom of the dovetail slot directly as does the side 9, butengages adjustable means for forcing the dovetail laterally andadjusting and determining the lateral fit between the dovetail and theslot.

-In the form illustrated, I employ adjustable shoe means between theright-hand side of the dovetail and the slot, and such a shoe l4 may becarried in a recess I5 in the bottom. of the dovetail slot. The shoe I4may be adjusted as by means of a screw l6, which may be locked inadjusted position as by means of a lock nut I1. I preferably employ twosuch shoes spaced longitudinally of the dovetail slot connection, as isclearly indicated in Fig. l, and since both shoes and their adjustmentare identical or quite similar, a description of the one will suflicefor both. It will be seen, then, that what I term the lat eral orsidewise fit between the dovetail and the dovetail slot may bedetermined by the adjustment of the shoes l4 and when both shoes (whentwo are employed) are adjusted, there will be spaced apart bearingsurfaces which will tend to avoid any binding or substantial resistance.to

I longitudinal sliding.

adjustment in accordance with my invention is determined by laterallyadjustable gib means secured to the slide and having a bearing thereonand on the dovetail so arranged that lateral movement will cause atighter or looser fit be tween the dovetail and its slot and thusdetermine the vertical fit of the lugs in the slots. As illustrated, theslide carries two adjustable gibs |8-l9, which may be and preferablyare. dupli-- cates of each other so that only one need be described. Thebearing face 2!) of eachgib isarranged at an angle to the bearingsurface 2|. so thatwhen the gib is adjusted laterally, the face willmove into tighter or looser engagement with'the corresponding face onthe lugv 8. As illustrated, where the bearingface 20 is at an angle, theface 2| may be horizontal (in. a relative sense, of course) The gibsl8|9. are secured in position as by means of screws 22 which passthroughoversize slotsin the slide while the heads are seated in a counterboreand the screws are threadedin'tothe gibs as shown at 24. A sufficientnumberof such screws 22 are employed so as to hold the' gibs with therequired security and rigidity. As stated, the gibs are adjustable so asto vary the vertical fit between the dovetail and the. slots.

7 The preferred form oiadjustment .is.by means of a cam pr eccentric sothat very fine gradations of adjustments may be made. As illustratedeach slide is provided with screws 25 having eccentrics so as to securethe exact vertical fit'de'sired the holding. screws 22 are tightened so.as to hold the gibsiin position.

It will thus be seen that I have provided means for. determining thelateral fit of the slide and its base and have provided entirelyindependent means for determining the vertical fit. Since inthelpreferredv form-the points or zones of contactbetween-the sides ofthe dovetail and the bottomsof the-dovetail slot are at spaced. apartpoints and since the: lateral fit and. thevertical fit are determinedindependently or eachother, it. will be clear that there will be littleor no tendency of theslide to. bind during its sliding movement onthezbase. Furthermore, because of the independent adjustments there willbe no necessity for the expensive scraping in of bearing'surfaces andtherefore hardened slide surfaces (which cannot be scraped) may be em:-.

ployed. With hardened surfaces there will be little or no wear .and suchWear. as does occur may be readily compensated for by the simpleadjustmentsofzlateral and vertical fit.

Theinvention has been described as embodied in a dovetailslottype ofconnection but it is to V be understood: that the principles of theinvention are applicable. to other forms of. lugand slotconnections...

While the invention has been described inze'one' siderable detailand apreferred form illustrated. 1t 15 to be understood that variouschangesmay be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the.appendedclaims. I claim:

1. In .a device of the character indicated, a

"member having a dovetail slot, a member havin .widely, separated andbeing located generally oppositesaid firste'mentioned lateral bearingengaging surfaces, whereby said dovetail .and slot will be inslidingbearing engagingcontact at two widely. separated. points at eachside tominimize stickingof said dovetail in said slot, and aadjustabl'eigib. means forming a part of said slot and. serving.toholdsaid dovetail in said slot.

2.;Iri.a device. of the character indicated, a member. havinga dovetailslot, a memberhaving a dovetail tofitinsaidslot, at least.one side. ofsaid dovetail islot being defined by an adjustable gib, said 'gibhaving-a horizontal bearing surface on the member. carrying said. gib,vertical Screw meanssecuringsaid gib to its member, means for adjusting.,said .igib. laterally... and horizontally,

saidigib andthe undersideof said dovetail have ing sliding. surfacesat..a smallv angle to. the horizontalwhereby horizontallan dlateraladjustmentofsaid gib will varythe vertical fit .of said dovetailin said. dovetail slot, said dovetailand ing a dovetail relativelyslidable in said slot, said 7 dovetail slotbeing defined at at leastoneside by an adjustable gib, said gib and the coacting surface onsaid-dovetail being inclined at a small angle to thehorizontal, aplurality of eccentrics between themember having the slot and said gibfor adjusting the .gib laterally of the'slotl screws .for clamping saidgib toits member, whereby lateraladjustment of said .gibwill determinethe. vertical fitof said dovetail and slot and said .gibwillbe.held .in adjusted position by. ,said' -.;clamping. screws, a shoe.engageable laterallybetweenone sidev of said dovetail and the adjacentside of the slot, and means foaadjusting the.-p'osition.of said shoe todetermine the fitof saiddovetail laterally in said slot.

. CLARENCE D. PULSIFER.

REFERENCES CITED The. following. references. are. or. record in the'.file 0L thislpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name- Date 1,225,726 Becker May 8, 19171,811,508 Klages June 23; 1931 2,340,450 Bouschor Feb. 1, 19442,435,849? Schlitters Feb. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number-z: CountryDate.

587.2% France .Jan.":.15; .1925

